Father will shoot them off
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Democratic National Convention, Fireworks, Fourth of July, Fourth of July celebrations, Gray, George, 1840-1925, Johnson, John Albert, 1861-1909, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Political conventions, Presidents--Elections
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William Jennings Bryan shoots off fireworks labeled “Nomination, Platform, Enthusiasm, Permanent Organization, Keynote, Issues, Nominating Speech, Second Speech, Vice Presidency, Resolutions, [and] Temporary Organization” while indicating that George Gray and John Albert Johnson should stand back for their safety, reminding them of “what happened to Alton” Parker in 1904, who is standing in the background with his arm in a sling. Caption: “Stand back, boys! You’re too young and inexperienced! Remember what happened to Alton!”
Comments and Context
At first glance the Puck cover drawing for the Fourth of July appears to be standard patriotic theme, and because it coincides with 1908’s Democratic presidential nominating convention, the prominent role of William Jennings Bryan seems logical.
The convention was set to open one week after this issue’s cover date, but if Bryan’s starring role in the drawing is logical, cartoonist Frank A. Nankivell constructed layers of trenchant commentary.
First, the firework explosions going off are labelled with all the traditional functions of a major convention — implying that Bryan’s supporters were in control of the convention and secure about its deliberations and outcome. On the verge of his third presidential nomination, this was indeed the case.
The cartoonist further embedded commentary by drawing three boys in the shadows, sustaining injuries and showing disappointment. The Democratic Party was so bereft of leadership in this period that Bryan had virtually opposition to his quest for the nomination. Possible rivals were too old, for instance Grover Cleveland who in fact died while this issue was on the press; or junior versions of Bryan, for instance publisher William Randolph Hearst, then a radical. He had served in Congress, run for New York governor and City Mayor, and had expressed ambitions to be president, in the absence of Bryan.
Judge Alton B. Parker, losing candidate in 1904, had left the bench and had no presidential aspirations. John Albert Johnson was a reform governor of Minnesota, obscure now and obscure then; he had expressed interest in the White House but never mounted a campaign. George Gray had similarities to Judge Parker — he held two relatively minor judgeships, in a Court of Appeals and as a Circuit Court judge; he had been a senator from the small state of Delaware, elected in 1885; and received courtesy votes in the 1904 convention, and only 50.5 votes in 1908.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1908-07-01
Creator(s)
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Father will shoot them off. [July 1, 1908]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286131. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959. Father will shoot them off. [1 Jul. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286131.
APA:
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959., [1908, July 1]. Father will shoot them off.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286131.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
